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Cultivating strong customer relationships is essential for small businesses’ growth. In 2024, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system will be no longer a luxury but a necessity. It simplifies customer interactions, optimizes sales processes, and enhances customer loyalty. This meticulously researched guide presents the 12 best CRMs for small businesses in 2024, considering factors like budget, user-friendliness, scalability, and features catering to unique needs.
The best CRMs for small business: Overview
| CRM | Best for | Highlight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho CRM | Customization | Extensive customization options including custom fields, views, and AI tools like Zia and Creator | $14/user/month (billed annually) |
| HubSpot Starter | Marketing and sales integration | Robust free version with advanced sales and marketing tools, including workflows and personalized email sequences | Free | $15/user/month (billed annually) |
| Notion | Project and task management | Highly customizable workspace ideal for managing projects and tasks | Free | $8/user/month (billed annually) |
| Freshsales | Sales automation | Advanced collaboration features and AI-powered lead scoring | Free | $9/user/month (billed annually) |
| Vtiger | All-in-one solution | Combines sales, marketing, and support features in one platform | $12/user/month (billed annually) with free trial available |
| NetHunt CRM | Gmail users | Seamlessly integrates with Gmail for CRM functionalities | $24/user/month (billed annually) |
| Salesforce Starter | Scalability | Highly scalable with powerful analytics and extensive app integrations | $25/user/month (billed annually) with free trial available |
| Capsule | Ease of use | Simple and user-friendly interface ideal for small teams | Free | $18/user/month (billed annually) |
| Flowlu | Business management | Includes tools for project management, finance tracking, and collaboration | Free | $29/month (billed annually) |
| Salesmate | Sales engagement | Focuses on improving sales processes with features like deal management and automation | $23/user/month (billed annually) |
| Ayana | Value for money | Simple setup, intuitive interface, visual sales pipeline, unlimited clients | Free | $5/month |
| Less Annoying CRM | Simplicity | Designed for ease of use with straightforward pricing and simple setup | $15/user/month with free trial available |
What to look for in a CRM for a small business
Choosing the right CRM for your small business is crucial to improving efficiency, managing customer relationships, and driving sales. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Ease of use. A CRM should have a clean, intuitive interface that is easy for your team to learn and use. This reduces training time and increases productivity from the start. Systems like HubSpot and Capsule are known for their user-friendly designs, making them excellent options for small teams.
- Customization options. Look for a CRM that allows you to customize fields, modules, and workflows. Zoho CRM, for instance, offers extensive customization capabilities, including custom fields and AI tools, making it highly adaptable to various business processes.
- Integration capabilities. Ensure the CRM can integrate with the tools and platforms you already use, such as email clients, marketing software, and project management tools. HubSpot, for example, has a robust marketplace with over 1,000 integrations, making it a versatile choice for many businesses.
- Automation and AI features. Automation features can save time by handling repetitive tasks like follow-up emails, data entry, and lead scoring. Look for CRMs with strong automation capabilities, such as Freshsales and Zoho CRM, which offer advanced workflow automations and AI-driven insights.
- Scalability. Choose a CRM that can scale with your business as it grows. This includes handling more users, contacts, and data without compromising performance. For instance, Salesforce Starter is known for its scalability, making it suitable for businesses planning to expand.
- Cost-effectiveness. Consider the pricing structure and whether it fits within your budget. Look for CRMs that offer a good balance of features and cost. Notion and Less Annoying CRM provide cost-effective solutions with essential features for small businesses.
- Customer support: Good customer support is essential, especially during the initial setup and when issues arise. Check if the CRM offers various support options, such as live chat, email, and phone support.
- Mobile access: Ensure the CRM has a mobile app that allows your team to access customer data and manage tasks from anywhere. This is particularly useful for businesses with field teams or remote workers.
The best CRMs for small businesses
Each of the CRMs reviewed in this article, from the extensive customization of Zoho CRM to the simplicity of Less Annoying CRM, offers unique strengths that can meet the different needs of small businesses. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Zoho CRM
🥇 Best for: Customization
✨ Highlight: Extensive customization options including custom fields, views, and AI tools like Zia and Creator
💲 Price: $14/user/month (billed annually)
Zoho CRM stands out for its extensive customization capabilities, making it ideal for businesses that need a tailored CRM solution. It offers advanced features like workflow automation and AI-driven tools, ensuring efficient lead management and customer relationship processes. Zoho’s robust customization options allow businesses to adapt the CRM to their unique needs, from custom modules to detailed analytics.
2. HubSpot Starter
🥇 Best for: Marketing and sales integration
✨ Highlight: Robust free version with advanced sales and marketing tools, including workflows and personalized email sequences
💲 Price: Free | $15/user/month (billed annually)
HubSpot Starter is perfect for integrating their marketing and sales efforts. Its robust free tier includes a wide range of tools, from contact management to email marketing, and its automation features help streamline workflows. The platform’s user-friendly interface and extensive integration options make it a favorite for businesses aiming to enhance their inbound marketing strategies. HubSpot also provides advanced analytics, lead scoring, and customizable dashboards, which are crucial for tracking performance and making data-driven decisions. It’s easily one of the best CRMs for small businesses out there.
3. Notion
🥇 Best for: Project and task management
✨ Highlight: Highly customizable workspace ideal for managing projects and tasks
💲 Price: Free | $10/user/month (billed annually)
Notion is not always the most popular choice for CRM purposes, but it offers many CRM templates that can be customized to fit various business needs. Its versatility makes it an excellent tool for managing projects and tasks, with the added benefit of being adaptable for customer relationship management. The platform’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and integration capabilities enhance its functionality, making it a viable option for small businesses looking for a flexible, all-in-one solution. Check out the various available CRM templates to start with Notion as your CRM.
👉 Learn more: 30+ Best Free Notion Templates in 2024
4. Freshsales
🥇 Best for: Sales automation
✨ Highlight: Advanced collaboration features and AI-powered lead scoring
💲 Price: Free | $9/user/month (billed annually)
Freshsales automates sales processes, making it ideal for small businesses focused on improving sales efficiency. It offers advanced features like AI-powered lead scoring, which helps prioritize leads that are most likely to convert. The platform also supports collaboration across teams with its multiview dashboards and task management capabilities. In addition, Freshsales integrates seamlessly with other tools and provides robust reporting and analytics.
5. Vtiger
🥇 Best for: All-in-one solution
✨ Highlight: Combines sales, marketing, and support features in one platform
💲 Price: $12/user/month (billed annually) with free trial available
Vtiger CRM is a comprehensive solution that integrates sales, marketing, and customer support into one platform, making it ideal for small businesses looking for an all-in-one tool. It offers features such as lead management, email marketing, and helpdesk capabilities, which streamline various business processes. Vtiger’s automation features help reduce manual tasks, while its robust analytics provide insights into business performance. The platform is user-friendly and highly customizable.
6. NetHunt CRM
🥇 Best for: Gmail users
✨ Highlight: Seamlessly integrates with Gmail for CRM functionalities
💲 Price: $24/user/month (billed annually)
NetHunt CRM is an excellent choice for businesses that rely heavily on Gmail for their communications. It integrates seamlessly with Gmail, turning your inbox into a powerful CRM tool. NetHunt allows you to manage contacts, track leads, and automate workflows directly from your email interface. Its user-friendly design ensures that you can quickly adapt and start managing your customer relationships more effectively. Additionally, NetHunt provides robust analytics and reporting features.
7. Salesforce Starter
🥇 Best for: Scalability
✨ Highlight: Highly scalable with powerful analytics and extensive app integrations
💲 Price: $25/user/month (billed annually) with free trial available
Salesforce Starter is one of the best CRMs for small businesses that want to scale. Known for its robust features and extensive customization options, Salesforce offers powerful analytics and a vast marketplace of app integrations. This platform supports comprehensive customer relationship management, including sales, customer service, and marketing automation. Salesforce’s cloud-based solution ensures that businesses can grow without worrying about outgrowing their CRM system.
8. Capsule
🥇 Best for: Ease of use
✨ Highlight: Simple and user-friendly interface ideal for small teams
💲 Price: Free | $18/user/month (billed annually)
Capsule is designed with simplicity in mind, making it an excellent choice for small teams that need an easy-to-use CRM system. The platform offers essential CRM functionalities such as contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and task management. Capsule’s interface is straightforward and intuitive, which minimizes the learning curve and enhances productivity. It also integrates well with popular tools like G Suite and MailChimp, providing a seamless workflow for managing customer relationships.
9. Flowlu
🥇 Best for: Business management
✨ Highlight: Includes tools for project management, finance tracking, and collaboration
💲 Price: Free | $29/month (billed annually)
Flowlu is a comprehensive business management tool that integrates CRM functionalities with project management, finance tracking, and team collaboration features. It is ideal for small businesses that need a multi-functional platform to manage various aspects of their operations. Flowlu offers robust project management tools, allowing you to plan, execute, and monitor projects effectively. Its finance tracking features help manage budgets, expenses, and invoices, while collaboration tools facilitate seamless team communication.
10. Salesmate
🥇 Best for: Sales engagement
✨ Highlight: Focuses on improving sales processes with features like deal management and automation
💲 Price: $23/user/month (billed annually)
Salesmate CRM is designed to enhance the efficiency and productivity of small to medium-sized business (SMB) sales teams. It offers a range of features that streamline sales processes, including deal management, sales automation, and pipeline tracking. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it easy to manage leads, track sales activities, and automate repetitive tasks. Salesmate also provides robust reporting and analytics tools, helping sales teams make data-driven decisions.
11. Ayana
🥇 Best for: Value for money
✨ Highlight: Simple setup, intuitive interface, visual sales pipeline, unlimited clients
💲 Price: Free | $5/month
Ayana CRM is designed to streamline business processes focusing on customer support. It offers advanced helpdesk features that allow businesses to manage client interactions, support tickets, and communication efficiently. The platform also includes tools for lead management, notifications, and comprehensive client management from a single interface. Ayana’s simplicity and ease of use make it an excellent choice for small businesses looking to enhance their customer support operations without a steep learning curve.
12. Less Annoying CRM
🥇 Best for: Simplicity
✨ Highlight: Designed for ease of use with straightforward pricing and simple setup
💲 Price: $15/user/month with free trial available
Less Annoying CRM lives up to its name by providing a simple and intuitive platform for managing customer relationships. It is specifically designed for small businesses that need an affordable and user-friendly CRM solution without the complexity of more advanced systems. Key features include contact management, pipeline tracking, task scheduling, and basic reporting. The platform is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor fields and pipelines to their specific needs. It’s an excellent choice for small businesses looking for a hassle-free CRM that covers all the basics without overwhelming users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the right CRM for your small business is crucial for enhancing customer relationships and streamlining operations. The CRMs reviewed in this article offer unique features tailored to different business needs. Zoho CRM stands out for its extensive customization options, while HubSpot Starter excels in marketing and sales integration. Freshsales focuses on sales automation with AI-powered lead scoring, and Less Annoying CRM offers simplicity and affordability, making it ideal for small businesses seeking a straightforward CRM solution.
For those interested in using Notion as their CRM, integrating it with other tools like Google Calendar, Google Tasks, and Todoist can significantly enhance productivity and organization. Services like 2sync allow seamless synchronization between Notion and these tools, ensuring all your tasks, events, and notes are consolidated in one place. This integration will enable you to keep track of your schedules, deadlines, and tasks effortlessly, ensuring you stay on top of your business operations.
The convenience of using a generous free CRM like Notion, combined with affordable premium plans and high customization capabilities, enables you to manage your business effectively. By leveraging Notion’s versatility and 2sync’s synchronization features, you can create a cohesive and efficient workflow that meets all your business needs, making it a powerful tool for small businesses aiming for efficiency and growth.
